At Deluminal, we prefer to work with startups. Working with startups gives you a glimpse into new tech and products. Most of all, startup websites require a straightforward setup. The key is to utilize the product features when developing a startup website.
However, startup owners fail to build effective websites. They are too concerned about overstating their value in such a short format.
Luckily, there is a simple framework for startup website development.
The Goal
Before you get to the planning and development, you need a goal for your website. Most owners go into this with the idea that they need a website. However, there are different websites for different business goals.
Often, you can set a goal depending on the stage of development of your startup. For example, in the early stages of development, you can get by with a single-page website. Since you a beta-stage product, you can use a simple website.
Then again, you may have a website with a product ready for use. In that case, you need a website with at least a few pages for additional information. Finally, you may have a working product ready for the market. Then, you want a website with more features to support your project.
Before you decide to develop anything, set goals. Some of the business goals are:
• Raising awareness
• Finding beta testers
• Selling the product
These goals are general. Raising awareness may mean that you are just entering the digital space for the first time. But, it can also mean that you want to bring more traffic to your website. Either way, your goal is to get more people to recognize your product and business. Once you set a goal, you can move to website development.
If you want to avoid most of these problems, consider building a website with bespoke software. Or, you could build a custom code website.
The Logic
Before you set out to contact a web developer, you need a framework for your website. It’s not enough to have a website. The website has to complete a specific function in your business to be effective. More than that, a website should be an asset to your online operation.
Thus, it is necessary to align your business goals and your website. A website shouldn’t be the primary element of your business and not even of your online presence. It should help you perform a specific function for your business and do it without fault.
Imagine that your goal is to raise awareness. You may get advice to pay for ads, become a part of a community, or do something along those lines. Then again, you may want to spend more time posting on LinkedIn and building your presence. It’s a cheap and effective strategy for long-term growth. To solidify your effort, let a website explain your company and product.
To raise awareness, think of the website as a business card. While you go online to market the website, send leads to the one-page website. Let them read what you do, how you do it, and why you do that.
That is a simple way to raise awareness. Now, you can move to planning the website.
The Planning
The planning part of the process starts after you set a goal. With a goal in mind, you can build a development plan for your website and incorporate it into the digital strategy. Regardless of the business goal, you want to examine your product first.
List all benefits and features of the product. You want to include them in the copy of your website as the core of web copy. Devise a company story and a founder bio. Remember to add relevant CTA buttons and add contact information. These elements comprise the content on your website. All that is left is to put them online.
If you are in the beginning stages of development, you can use a one-pager website or a landing page. Add all that content and ask a web designer to build it on a page. A more complex product requires a more complex website.
Before the deployment stage, have an outline for the website and copy ready. Add images, logo, and contact information. Now, you can build a website.
The Deployment
When it comes to deployment, you want a custom-code website on a WordPress platform. There are other methodologies and ways to develop a website. But, remember the premise here, the goal of a website is to help with a set business goal.
While you may go overboard and build a monumental website, you can avoid that. You want an operational website as soon as possible. If the goal is to raise awareness, it’s more efficient to have a website.
For example, you may outreach to users on LinkedIn. Instead of having them remember your business and profile, share a website link with them. Later, they can share the link with other users and help to spread the word about your startup.
As for elements, WordPress is a stable and effective platform for a website of any size. Also, it has an excellent CMS, and it is easy to add additional content. Also, you can update it and keep it up to date with a few clicks. Finally, it allows you to add relevant add-ons like Google Analytics and other useful apps.
Finally, you can code and build custom themes and add content. It makes deployment fast and safe while having an operational and stable website. Once the website is live, you can use it for any digital marketing purposes.
Launch Startup Website
All that is left is to develop a website. There are many problems you may encounter. And a website can help your startup in the long run.
After all, you have to iterate and modify the website as your startups grow. Make the most of it with a proper website.